Rather than calling up Dudley right away or opening a HelpDesk Ticket, I decided to use Tim's all-inclusive instructions (https://helpdesk.flexradio.com/hc/en-us/articles/204975589) to completely remove ALL old versions of SmartSDR and install SmartSDR (v)1.7.30 as a clean, brand-new installation. That resolved the DAX Driver error.
For most software vendors, when a new software version is released, the installation software FIRST removes the old version and then installs the new version such that only one version of the vendor's software is installed on the hard drive at a time. For the Flex Radio Systems SmartSDR, unless one does Tim's complete removal procedure (a manual step-by-step process I might add), your Add/Remove Programs Window will possibly show five or more versions of SmartSDR. And as a CAUTION NOTE, you cannot use the Add/Remove functionality to remove the older SmartSDR versions. You MUST use Tim's method to safely remove the old versions which includes removing the most recent version first.
(EDIT: According to this post by Tim, you CAN remove old versions with no harmful effects. If that is the case, why Tim, does one need to use your procedure to completely uninstall SmartSDR for Windows starting with the latest version first?)
Sooooooo... Why can't the SmartSDR Installation software be written such that it does NOT leave residual old versions of SmartSDR on the hard drive? Then, should a DAX Driver error screen occur in the future, all one would need to do is to remove the one-and-only current version completely and re-install it whereby resolving the error.
Makes sense to me...
73, Dave Hamm K4EET
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- Confident the Flex Software Engineers will do the "right" thing...
Posted 3 years ago
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Bob K4RLC
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Even for those of us that like to keep the previous version, it would be nice to have this option for those occasions when we have an issue and want to start clean.

Regards, Al / NN4ZZ
al (at) nn4zz (dot) com
6700 - HW.................... V 1.6.21.77
SSDR / DAX / CAT...... V 1.6.21.159
Win10
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Not for this particular problem, but for other incidences, I have done that. Not a bad idea to have a recent restore point handy. Easy way out.
73
Roy W5TCX
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Lee, Elmer
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manage your software either
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I have been trying to "hammer" this point home for two years now. I even said I'd trade that feature for a delayed WAN!
Jim, K6QE
Steve K9ZW, Elmer
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73
Steve
K9ZW
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Jay -- N0FB, Elmer
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Come on gang! We are all at least General class operators and supposedly at least a little more technically savvy than the average Schmo. I don't expect Flex Radio to be in the diaper changing business. It's time for a few of you to Cowboy Up!
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Steve K9ZW, Elmer
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There are compelling reasons to discuss several possible improvements, and fortunately the status quo works reasonably well and the documented remedies for the occasional glitch largely work well.
Keeping the discussion above personal jabs helps strive towards clarity. Acute time deficits are not uncommon, but are only one item of many being balanced. I would expect there are axis of discernment we've not even touched upon that FRS must deal with.
73
Steve
K9ZW
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If you don't have time for your hobby, maybe change your rig so that you don't have any updates. If you cannot take humorous criticism, then maybe this place is not right for you.
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Inconvenient - My logging software can be configured to launch external programs but, since the path changes each time, it has to be modified for each new version release.
Messy - I have many directories of obsolete Flex software. I can imagine what the Registry entries look like.
We're making progress on DAX slobbering unused audio drivers everywhere (still a long way to go). CAT is being unbundled at last for those of us who don't interface to COM ports anymore.
Let us finally admit that many of us use the hamshack machine for things other than ham radio and clean up our act on install practices.
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Multisystem ops who use multiple versions side by side have my deep sympathy, but surely there aren't many of them! As a rule, the burden of "big" installations should be borne by those folks -- who have the resources -- and not the vast majority (?) of us with simple setups.
73 Martin AA6E
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People used to think the world was Flat once too. ;)
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Blue is an adjacent but different part of the spectrum.
;)
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Lee, Elmer
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73 W9OY
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Lee, Elmer
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Steve K9ZW, Elmer
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Would a separate "Remove Everything" application work for those who would like to see things done differently.
On automatically deleting the prior versions, I would think it very wise to have a way to opt-out of a choice that could leave your system radio dead if something didn't work out well.
The statements that no other software leaves old versions intact puzzle me, as several major packages we professionally use do leave the prior setups intact or archived. We usually delete them after a couple backup-cycles if the latest software has proven stable in our instances.
73
Steve K9ZW
- 1687 Posts
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The vast majority of my programs silently delete the previous versions during an install of an updated version. Strangely, some installers do it whilst the manufacturer advises an uninstall before updating!
Cheers and beers
Guy
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Actually, implicit in what I am proposing is where on the continuum of PC-DOS wild wild west and commercial Windows program support does SmartSDR fall. My background is from a commercial software development environment whereas many reading this thread are from the PC-DOS, Windows consumer consumer. I don't believe users can make that choice for the vendor, but they can telegraph what they are willing to accept. With that distinction, I believe I have contributed all I can to this conversation.
Steve K9ZW, Elmer
- 1316 Posts
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Ditto on commodity/consumer software here, but not so on a few of the complex packages we use.
Granted these packages are typically multi-user split server/client packages, some with per-seat license costs more than a Flex-6700 costs. Having the old version living alongside the new has saved us from blackout periods when upgrades didn't have all functionality working right. Sometimes that was caused by difficulties from our site specific customization breaking the upgrades initially.
What the point in the end is, I have three major packages running on my work machine and our servers that follow the FRS model of not deleting. So FRS is not alone in their decision to leave the old.
I just browsed the server and each also seems to have a common area, where less version specific stuff must live. User Data is in another file tree.
YMMV of course as we won't be using the same software, at least professionally I doubt you need our industry specific packages for your practice and the same in return here.
73
Steve K9ZW
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When you un-install just remember to leave the DAX drivers in-place and all is well. See second picture click OK
For version 1.7.30 this was 30 + times...
I also have Windows 10 installing the latest updates including Insider Preview Builds.
After the upgrade to 1511 of Windows 10 there have been no problems.


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